APPENDIX. 443 



SHELL-DKAKE. 



G-oosander Weaser. 

 Mergus Merganser, Wils. 



Specific Character. Forehead low; head rounded, 

 crested ; bill bright red, the ridge black, high at 

 base; upper mandible much hooked. Adult male 

 with the head and upper part of the neck greenish- 

 black ; lower portion of the neck white ; under 

 plumage light buff, delicately tinged with rose-color^ 

 which fades after death ; sides of the rump greyish- 

 white, marked with undulating lines of dusky ; fore 

 part of the back and inner scapulars glossy black; 

 hind part of the back ash-grey ; the feathers margined 

 and tipped with greyish-white, lighter on the rump ; 

 upper tail-coverts grey, the feathers marked with 

 central streaks of dusky ; tail feathers darker ; pri- 

 maries dark brown ; wing coverts and secondaries 

 white, the outer webs of the latter edged with 

 black ; the basal part of the greater coverts black, 

 forming a conspicuous band on the wings; under 

 tail-coverts white, outer webs marked with dusky 

 grey, which is the color of the greater part of the 

 web ; bill and feet bright red. Female with the head 

 and upper part of the neck reddish-brown ; throat 

 and lower neck in front white ; breast and abdomen 

 deeply tinged with buff; upper parts and sides of 

 the body ash-grey ; speculum white. Length of 

 male, twenty-seven inches; wing, ten and a half. 

 Female about three inches smaller. Young like the 

 female. 



